India: Muslim mob attacks Hindus on Diwali
There is virtually no Hindu festival that passes without rabid Muslim mobs mounting unprovoked attacks against unarmed and innocent Hindus. Last week, Hindus celebrated Diwali with joy and grandeur worldwide, but in their home, India, they were ambushed and assaulted by a violent Muslim mob. On Monday, November 13, a disturbing incident unfolded at the Kanifnath temple in the Rahuri region of Maharashtra’s Ahmednagar. A group of Muslims identified as Rajjak Sattar, Raju Sheikh, Ibrahim, Nasir, and forty others unleashed an unprovoked and violent attack on Hindu devotees. This attack occurred as the Hindus were performing rituals of the Diwali celebration and singing devotional prayers. Photos and videos of the Muslims physically assaulting the unprepared victims have since gone viral.
The Muslim party argues that the site of the Hindu temple is a “Dargah of the Pir,” and asserts that the land is reserved for the Waqf board. Allegedly, the Waqf board has also removed mentions of the Kanifnath Samadhi Temple from the official documents of the site.
Now, the phenomenon of the Waqf board in India is an interesting one; the Islamic committee dealing with land and property rights can designate literally any piece of land or property in the country and declare its ownership, without having the obligation of producing any proof. The onus of proving the Waqf board incorrect is on the owner of the land or property claimed by the Islamic board. This may appear a little twisted, and we may discuss it in detail another day. For now, let’s understand that the Muslim party has claimed a religious site that is of importance to the Hindus. So it is a group of Muslims claiming rights over a place that has religious significance for a different religious group — now that doesn’t sound unfamiliar, does it?
The Hindus have called this a case of land jihad. Local journalist Babulal Rathore recounted that the disorder transpired at the ancient religious site in Guha village, known as the resting place, aka samadhi, of Saint Kanifnath Maharaj.
Though tensions surrounding this site have been going on for over a decade, things escalated about a year ago when some members of the Muslim community desecrated the Hindu site. They removed saffron clothes from the tomb and swapped them with a green sheet, symbolizing Islam. The assailants seem to have plotted this violence on November 13, during the Deepavali Amavasya festivities, knowing it was when the Hindus would be invested in their religious prayers, songs and the distribution of free food at the Kanifnath Mandir site.
The mob, armed with sticks and rods, marched into the prayer space and pounced upon the Hindus, who were engaged in singing devotional songs. They didn’t spare women and children, either. A viral video of the incident shows the attackers slapping the Hindu women who were singing devotional songs. The priest in saffron attire was cornered, and the murderous crowd could be heard shouting “kill him” repeatedly, which added a gory dimension to the mayhem. Several devotees, including temple priest Shankar Kishan Majre, sustained severe injuries.
The police were promptly informed, and the attackers fled the scene as soon as the forces reached the site. Police have initiated an investigation, and victims have been given medical examinations. After learning about the incident, the Hindu community gathered at the site and demanded strict action against the perpetrators.
The police have filed a case, and 62 accused persons have been booked under sections 143, 147, 148, 149, 323, 324, 504, and 506 of the Indian Penal Code. They have arrested ten individuals so far, based on the complaint by priest Shankar Manjre; investigations are ongoing. The police have also issued a statement assuring people of justice and maintaining calm and order.
According to Hindu activist Rishikesh Bangre, this disorder was part of a larger plot by Muslims who are determined to seize around 40 acres of land of the one-hundred-year-old Sant Kanifnath Samadhi Mandir. The dispute has been going on for over a decade, and the latest developments have only fueled ongoing tensions.
Pakistan court rules jail trial of ex-PM
Imran Khan illegal
A Pakistani court on Tuesday declared the jail trial of former Prime Minister Imran Khan on charges of leaking state secrets illegal, his lawyer said.
A special court has been conducting the trial in jail citing security concerns since Khan was indicted on the charges last month.
"Islamabad High Court has declared illegal the notification for jail trial," said Naeem Panjutha, the lawyer, in a post on social media platform X.
Khan's legal team had challenged the law ministry notification that ordered the jail trial.
The charges against Khan relate to a classified cable sent to Islamabad by Pakistan's ambassador in the United States last year, which Khan is accused of making public.
Former cricket hero Khan, who was forced from office in 2022 after losing a no-confidence vote in parliament, has had dozens of legal cases filed against him, which he has denounced as an effort to keep him out of politics.
He has been convicted in one graft case and sentenced to three years in jail. The sentence was suspended but he remains in prison in connection with other cases.
(Reuters)
China's systematic mosque-reduction
'to curb practice of Islam' - HRW:
Nov. 22 (UPI) -- Beijing has closed or destroyed at least 1,300 mosques in the country's Ningxia and Gansu provinces as part of its drive to "Sinicize" religion, according to a Human Rights Watch report released Wednesday.
The Chinese Communist Party's so-called "mosque consolidation" policy was part of a deliberate push to suppress Islam, the group said in a news release.
"The Chinese government is not 'consolidating' mosques as it claims, but closing many down in violation of religious freedom," said HRW acting China director Maya Wang. "The closure, destruction, and repurposing of mosques is part of a systematic effort to curb the practice of Islam in China."
HRW said Chinese state control over religion had tightened since 2016 when President Xi Jinping called for the "Sinicization" of religions to ensure the communist party is the sole arbiter of people's spiritual life.
Curious! Communism is largely a godless ideology.
The state has its own branches of the major religions and restricts worship to officially sanctioned houses of worship over which authorities retain strict control.
The drive to make Islam "more Chinese" gathered momentum in 2018 when the party ruled that in order to "compress the overall number [of mosques]" there should be more "[mosque] demolitions than constructions."
In the past three years, Chinese authorities have decommissioned, closed down, demolished, and converted for secular use about 1,320 of Ningxia province's 4,000 or so mosques, according to research by two British academics who specialize in the study of Asia's Hui Muslims.
Islamic architectural features, such as domes and minarets, have also been removed from many other mosques.
Similarly, many crosses have been removed from Christian churches throughout China.
Government records back up claims it has been "consolidating" mosques in the two provinces with the largest Muslim populations after Xinjiang where authorities damaged or destroyed two-thirds of mosques, according to the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.
HRW says Hui Muslims it has spoken with say the actions -- including going as far as removing essentials such as preachers' podiums -- were aimed at redirecting loyalty toward the Communist Party and dissuading people from going to pray at mosques, which authorities subsequently shut due to lack of attendance.
Students and government employees resistant to persuasion are threatened with school probation and unemployment.
"After the mosques are converted, the local governments strictly monitor attendance at the remaining mosques," one Muslim told HRW. "In the beginning, they would check the attendees' national identification cards. Then they install surveillance cameras to flag those prohibited from mosques, including Communist Party members or children."
HRW urged China to scrap its religious Sinicization campaign, repeal laws and regulations restricting the right to freedom of religion, and release those detained for speaking out or protesting against the crackdown.
It also called on the international community, particularly the Organization of Islamic Cooperation countries to apply pressure on Beijing.
"The Chinese government's policies of Sinicization show a blanket disregard for freedom of religion not only of all Muslims in China, but all religious communities in the country," said Wang.
What communist country has ever been concerned with religious freedom?
"Governments concerned about religious freedom should raise these issues directly with the Chinese government and at the United Nations and other international forums."
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